He's already been sentenced to more than 2.5 years in prison in a separate case, a sentence that has sparked outrage and protests across the country.

But the Kremlin seems determined to put a stop to them.

In recent weeks, police have been targeting opposition activists across Russia.

Our Moscow correspondent, Steve Rosenberg, traveled more than 4000 miles east to the capital of Vladivostok to see how critics of the Kremlin there are being put under pressure something.

What do you find at the end of Russia, where the Pacific turns to ice?

This is at first, Russia here feels frozen in time, no hint of spring.

But in Vladivostok, there are signs that something is changing.

Last month, thousands here risked arrest to protest in support of jailed opposition leader Alexander.

By me, there were rallies across Russia, but there is no political four Kremlin calls the protests illegal, and it's cracking down.

A blogger, Gennady Sugar, had livestreamed one of the protests A few days ago.

Police raided his flat on pinned him to the floor.

A police video shows gin Ardis head over the dog bowl.

One night fell at the bar.

Uh, this'll show of force was meant to scare me and my wife.

Now the authorities air using that video to scare others by showing what happens to people who tell the truth.

So scientist Anton Ration, who's working on new cancer treatments, took part in the Vladivostok protests.

He, too, has been targeted by the police.

They broken toe my apartment's holding, laying on the floor like some criminal, and it was the rial, humiliated and infuriating.

This isn't just happening here in the Russian Far East.

In recent days, there have been reports of police raids and searches across the country, a sign of just how determined the authorities are to crush the protest movement in Moscow, Aleksei Navalny was back in the dock, accused of defaming a World War two veteran this month.

You've already been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in a fraud case widely seen as politically motivated.

The police raids on protesters is an attempt to cut Mr Navalny's support base by spreading fear it will send a chilling waves across everybody else who is in their early twenties.

Idealistic wants the war for Tim Navalny.

A lot of people will be scared a lot off.

Parents will insert a lot of pressure on their kids.

Do not join the movement.

There's something else the Kremlin is doing to try to undermine public support for protests.

It's telling Russians through the state media that Mr Navalny is an agent of the West and some people are believing it.

What way?

He's carrying out the West's instructions, Galina says.

Way all know it's the West pulling the finest strings, Julia tells me on.

As for the finally being poisoned, we probably poisoned himself.

Where is this taking Russia?

With blame The West The official narrative There's little chance of a thaw in relations with America and Europe.

Russia is facing the prospect of growing isolation.